Baan Mae’s Thom Khem Thaohu

While quick in preparation, this robust one-pot stew from Baan Mae in Washington, DC (one of our Best New Restaurants of 2025), boasts a complex, salty-sweet flavor thanks to a clever combination of caramelized sugar, lychee, warming spices, and fiery ginger. The trick is to fully cook your sugar. Allowing it to properly caramelize is what gives the stew its complex flavor, so be patient and allow it to deepen in color before adding your sauce. This process might feel scary, but fearlessness will be rewarded with a richer flavor. Dropping the tofu directly in the sauce and allowing it to gently simmer in the flavorful hot tub transforms them into flavorful cubes perfect for serving over warm rice. Topped with fresh herbs and chile, the tofu strikes the perfect balance of flavors with just enough heat.